Now desperate traders in Madeira Drive are asking for a similar lifeline after “the worst summer of business ever”.

Visitors who park along the seafront road to visit iconic tourist attractions such as the Palace Pier and the Brighton Wheel are being forced to cough up £20 for 11 hours’ parking – and it must all be paid in coins.

Previously they shelled out £10 for nine hours and £7 for six hours on last year’s summer rate.

Greg Harman, 51, who runs the Madeira Café, said: “It’s great news about the London Road area but now I hope to see the same for Madeira Drive.

"I ask the council: please try and support the local businesses.

"We are your life blood, we all pay our rent and we all contribute as we’re told, so please do something for us.

“We’ve had one victim already in the Beach Café – the keys have been handed back by the owner and he’s had to shut up shop.

“If the charges aren’t reduced it could be the first victim in a long line of struggling businesses.”

Annoyed drivers

Artist Sonia Canals, 45, runs an art gallery and studio in Madeira Drive. She said: “I just hope they reduce the parking charges to a reasonable level so people can enjoy the city and the shopping as they should.

"Drivers are also annoyed that they have to find £20 in pound coins.”

Other business owners fear neighbouring towns and cities will benefit from the dwindling numbers of day-trippers since the new charges came into effect.

Neil Sykes, 44, who owns the Modern World Gallery on Madeira Drive, said: “It’s killed the whole summer, no doubt about it.

“Not just for the traders but for the public too who have been coming for years and years.

“They’re saying they’re not coming back to Brighton because they refuse to pay £20 to park. It’s hard to disagree with them.

"They park up in Madeira Drive, get the kids and prams out the car, go to the parking meters and then you see them packing their stuff up again and driving off.”

Public transport

Despite many firms, some of which claimed they were on the verge of going bust, backing The Argus’s Park The Charges campaign, the local authority’s Green administration had stood by the increases, claiming they would reduce congestion and push people towards other forms of transport.

But on Monday, December 3 council chiefs revealed charges in the London Road area would be cut from as early as next month.

And parking bosses said other concessions could follow as part of a widespread review in the new year.

Green Councillor Ian Davey, chairman of the council’s transport committee, said the changes to London Road had been made after listening to traders’ concerns.

Conservatives sitting on Brighton and Hove City Council welcomed the news but called called for further cuts.

Holy Mackeral - almost 1 hour in and no flippant, irreverant comments...

... oh.

wait.

****... guilty as charged.

Score: 0

SicklySeagull
4:54pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Possible cuts in charges next month,if rates are not reduced immediately traders will not be in business then,they require a boost to their Christmas period trading.

Possible cuts in charges next month,if rates are not reduced immediately traders will not be in business then,they require a boost to their Christmas period trading.SicklySeagull

Possible cuts in charges next month,if rates are not reduced immediately traders will not be in business then,they require a boost to their Christmas period trading.

Score: 0

Dealing with idiots
6:45pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..

Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033530&
HPID=6033530

Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..
Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033530&
HPID=6033530Dealing with idiots

Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..

Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033530&
HPID=6033530

Score: 0

multiple personality moron with no life
7:18pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Dealing with idiots wrote…

Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..

Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh

ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP

etitionDisplay.aspx?

ID=360&RPID=6033
530&
HPID=6033530

i've just signed it and i was the 129th person to sign it! Only need another 1121 people to sign it now - come on!!

[quote][p][bold]Dealing with idiots[/bold] wrote:
Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..
Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033
530&
HPID=6033530[/p][/quote]i've just signed it and i was the 129th person to sign it! Only need another 1121 people to sign it now - come on!!multiple personality moron with no life

Dealing with idiots wrote…

Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..

Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh

ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP

etitionDisplay.aspx?

ID=360&RPID=6033
530&
HPID=6033530

i've just signed it and i was the 129th person to sign it! Only need another 1121 people to sign it now - come on!!

Score: 0

Maxwell's Ghost
7:35pm Wed 5 Dec 12

I heard Jason KitKat and Caroline Lucas visited the Chancellor today to ask for a more generous council tax settlement.
This was just hours after the Chancellor told the UK that we would face austerity measures for the next six years due to the deficit.
I imagine the Chancellor would say: "So Mr KitKat, Brighton and Hove is one of the most recession proof towns due to its popularity, yet you kill the golden goose, your opporunity to create a revenue stream from parking charges. You slaughter it, then suffocate it's little goslings (the town's businesses) and then come to me to ask the rest of the UK to help you out of your mess....Mr KitKat, I suggest you go back home and try to revive the golden goose and quickly before your headend up on a platter."
Jason scratched his head and replied: "What's a revenue stream?"

I heard Jason KitKat and Caroline Lucas visited the Chancellor today to ask for a more generous council tax settlement.
This was just hours after the Chancellor told the UK that we would face austerity measures for the next six years due to the deficit.
I imagine the Chancellor would say: "So Mr KitKat, Brighton and Hove is one of the most recession proof towns due to its popularity, yet you kill the golden goose, your opporunity to create a revenue stream from parking charges. You slaughter it, then suffocate it's little goslings (the town's businesses) and then come to me to ask the rest of the UK to help you out of your mess....Mr KitKat, I suggest you go back home and try to revive the golden goose and quickly before your headend up on a platter."
Jason scratched his head and replied: "What's a revenue stream?"Maxwell's Ghost

I heard Jason KitKat and Caroline Lucas visited the Chancellor today to ask for a more generous council tax settlement.
This was just hours after the Chancellor told the UK that we would face austerity measures for the next six years due to the deficit.
I imagine the Chancellor would say: "So Mr KitKat, Brighton and Hove is one of the most recession proof towns due to its popularity, yet you kill the golden goose, your opporunity to create a revenue stream from parking charges. You slaughter it, then suffocate it's little goslings (the town's businesses) and then come to me to ask the rest of the UK to help you out of your mess....Mr KitKat, I suggest you go back home and try to revive the golden goose and quickly before your headend up on a platter."
Jason scratched his head and replied: "What's a revenue stream?"

Score: 0

Kate234
8:53pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Maxwell's Ghost wrote…

I heard Jason KitKat and Caroline Lucas visited the Chancellor today to ask for a more generous council tax settlement.
This was just hours after the Chancellor told the UK that we would face austerity measures for the next six years due to the deficit.
I imagine the Chancellor would say: "So Mr KitKat, Brighton and Hove is one of the most recession proof towns due to its popularity, yet you kill the golden goose, your opporunity to create a revenue stream from parking charges. You slaughter it, then suffocate it's little goslings (the town's businesses) and then come to me to ask the rest of the UK to help you out of your mess....Mr KitKat, I suggest you go back home and try to revive the golden goose and quickly before your headend up on a platter."
Jason scratched his head and replied: "What's a revenue stream?"

I imagine the chancellor also thought why is he named after a chocolate bar and why should we take this pair of idiots seriously.

[quote][p][bold]Maxwell's Ghost[/bold] wrote:
I heard Jason KitKat and Caroline Lucas visited the Chancellor today to ask for a more generous council tax settlement.
This was just hours after the Chancellor told the UK that we would face austerity measures for the next six years due to the deficit.
I imagine the Chancellor would say: "So Mr KitKat, Brighton and Hove is one of the most recession proof towns due to its popularity, yet you kill the golden goose, your opporunity to create a revenue stream from parking charges. You slaughter it, then suffocate it's little goslings (the town's businesses) and then come to me to ask the rest of the UK to help you out of your mess....Mr KitKat, I suggest you go back home and try to revive the golden goose and quickly before your headend up on a platter."
Jason scratched his head and replied: "What's a revenue stream?"[/p][/quote]I imagine the chancellor also thought why is he named after a chocolate bar and why should we take this pair of idiots seriously.Kate234

Maxwell's Ghost wrote…

I heard Jason KitKat and Caroline Lucas visited the Chancellor today to ask for a more generous council tax settlement.
This was just hours after the Chancellor told the UK that we would face austerity measures for the next six years due to the deficit.
I imagine the Chancellor would say: "So Mr KitKat, Brighton and Hove is one of the most recession proof towns due to its popularity, yet you kill the golden goose, your opporunity to create a revenue stream from parking charges. You slaughter it, then suffocate it's little goslings (the town's businesses) and then come to me to ask the rest of the UK to help you out of your mess....Mr KitKat, I suggest you go back home and try to revive the golden goose and quickly before your headend up on a platter."
Jason scratched his head and replied: "What's a revenue stream?"

I imagine the chancellor also thought why is he named after a chocolate bar and why should we take this pair of idiots seriously.

Score: 0

Maxwell's Ghost
10:15pm Wed 5 Dec 12

...or maybe he gave KitKat two fingers.

...or maybe he gave KitKat two fingers.Maxwell's Ghost

...or maybe he gave KitKat two fingers.

Score: 0

Fairfax Sakes
11:50am Thu 6 Dec 12

As I see it, the increasing of parking charges can only have the positive effect of reducing the inevitable writhing swarms of working class delinquents who flood the town every weekend. Higher costs will serve to reduce their numbers whilst making it a slightly more relaxing experience for the more refined, affluent types who the town should really focus on attracting. Reduce quantity, improve quality of the visitors. Most inhabitants of central Brighton don’t work in the town anyway, so who cares if a few kebab shops and tourist-tat traders close down? You get what you pay for as they say.

As I see it, the increasing of parking charges can only have the positive effect of reducing the inevitable writhing swarms of working class delinquents who flood the town every weekend. Higher costs will serve to reduce their numbers whilst making it a slightly more relaxing experience for the more refined, affluent types who the town should really focus on attracting. Reduce quantity, improve quality of the visitors. Most inhabitants of central Brighton don’t work in the town anyway, so who cares if a few kebab shops and tourist-tat traders close down? You get what you pay for as they say.Fairfax Sakes

As I see it, the increasing of parking charges can only have the positive effect of reducing the inevitable writhing swarms of working class delinquents who flood the town every weekend. Higher costs will serve to reduce their numbers whilst making it a slightly more relaxing experience for the more refined, affluent types who the town should really focus on attracting. Reduce quantity, improve quality of the visitors. Most inhabitants of central Brighton don’t work in the town anyway, so who cares if a few kebab shops and tourist-tat traders close down? You get what you pay for as they say.

Score: 0

Dealing with idiots
1:31pm Thu 6 Dec 12

multiple personality moron with no life wrote…

Dealing with idiots wrote…

Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..

Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh

ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP

etitionDisplay.aspx?

ID=360&RPID=6033

530&
HPID=6033530

i've just signed it and i was the 129th person to sign it! Only need another 1121 people to sign it now - come on!!

You are only seeing the online signatures. There is also a paper version doing the rounds all over the city. We have until the middle of January and judging by the comments on this esteemed organ there are a few people in the city who do think Jason and the astronauts should be kicked out. Oh just heard that Ian Davey will be pronouncing on B&H transport policy at the friends centre tomorrow evening at 7pm. Any one fancy joining him?

[quote][p][bold]multiple personality moron with no life[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Dealing with idiots[/bold] wrote:
Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..
Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033
530&
HPID=6033530[/p][/quote]i've just signed it and i was the 129th person to sign it! Only need another 1121 people to sign it now - come on!![/p][/quote]You are only seeing the online signatures. There is also a paper version doing the rounds all over the city. We have until the middle of January and judging by the comments on this esteemed organ there are a few people in the city who do think Jason and the astronauts should be kicked out. Oh just heard that Ian Davey will be pronouncing on B&H transport policy at the friends centre tomorrow evening at 7pm. Any one fancy joining him?Dealing with idiots

multiple personality moron with no life wrote…

Dealing with idiots wrote…

Promises, promises. I would trust Ian Davey as far as I could spit a rat. Don't let him kick the issue into the long grass. Keep on him although he will then refuse to talk to you like a spoilt child. For the longer term though lets have some people who actually want to serve the people of Brighton and Hove..

Vote of no confidence in the Green administration e- petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh

ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP

etitionDisplay.aspx?

ID=360&RPID=6033

530&
HPID=6033530

i've just signed it and i was the 129th person to sign it! Only need another 1121 people to sign it now - come on!!

You are only seeing the online signatures. There is also a paper version doing the rounds all over the city. We have until the middle of January and judging by the comments on this esteemed organ there are a few people in the city who do think Jason and the astronauts should be kicked out. Oh just heard that Ian Davey will be pronouncing on B&H transport policy at the friends centre tomorrow evening at 7pm. Any one fancy joining him?

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